Tuesday, August 01, 2006
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
I have to admit, I feel a bit lazy. My summer habits do not extend to the adventures that I have seen written about here. I read (and this year I am doing the internet surfing thing, as I think I am ready to make the jump to a blog and podcasts this year). Has anybody read Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind, by Guy Claxton? It was published in 1997. Interesting stuff. He proposed three kinds of thinking; split-second decisions, reasoned long-range thought and musings. Of course, the book is about the last. He claims this is where creativity comes from. This undefined, introspective, non-linear comtemplation. Further, that school learning does its best to snuff out this kind of thought. I am not finished with the book yet. I wondered if anyone else had heard of it.
# posted by Donna Emerson : 8:30 AM
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The Claxton book sounds freakin' fascinating. "School learning does its best to snuff out this kind of thought"--jeez, I hope school learning does not succeed in stamping out musing and daydreaming...non-linear contemplation is the most enjoyable kind.
Happy lazy blogolicious podcastic summer, dear.
Happy lazy blogolicious podcastic summer, dear.
I think that observation about musing is very interesting. I become very dulled and drained after too much sturctured, clock time work with a bazillion split-second decisions and much reasoned thought. That's when I need to go look at the ocean, or stare over a cup of coffee, maybe take a bike ride...it all looks as if I'm doing nothing, but I'm regaining access to mental functions that were shut out in the daily teaching rat race.
More accessible ways to contemplate include leaning on my podium staring long after the kids have been dismissed. My principal walked in one afternoon and found me there, staring, wondering, musing over the enormity of the task before me.
As a kid in school I got the label many earn of "day dreamer" - and there was some truth of fantasy escape being more interesting that what was going on around me at times - but I also think there are habits of mind to consider here. Is it possible to not snuff out this sort of thought in a school environment, if it is indeed creative and "productive."?
More accessible ways to contemplate include leaning on my podium staring long after the kids have been dismissed. My principal walked in one afternoon and found me there, staring, wondering, musing over the enormity of the task before me.
As a kid in school I got the label many earn of "day dreamer" - and there was some truth of fantasy escape being more interesting that what was going on around me at times - but I also think there are habits of mind to consider here. Is it possible to not snuff out this sort of thought in a school environment, if it is indeed creative and "productive."?
I love this blog thing. Yes, John, I took my son to the Chicano exhibit. I agree, You MUST see art in person to "get it". I liked the artist (I think there were only 2 pieces) who had been a former tagger. I was surprised at how large the show was. Cheech must have a big house.
Grant, thanks for the always kind comments.
Karen, haven't read Blink, but it's in the "stack" (which is too large to actually stack).
Laura, see it proves how really creative you are. The process you are describing is exactly right. Your point of it not being seemingly productive is well taken.
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Grant, thanks for the always kind comments.
Karen, haven't read Blink, but it's in the "stack" (which is too large to actually stack).
Laura, see it proves how really creative you are. The process you are describing is exactly right. Your point of it not being seemingly productive is well taken.
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